What did you do to your Mark VIII today?

Lots of regular maintenance on my 97:

  • Oil and filter change
  • Plugs, air filter, PCV valve, fuel filter
  • Replaced vacuum line running from PCV to intake
  • Cut the wire and eliminated the "Check Air Ride" message
  • Sanded several surface rust spots on the rocker panels, then hit them with rust converter
I have primer, paint and clear coming from paintscratch.com. We'll see how well it matches. Since its all below door level, it's not a huge deal if it's not an exact match.
 
Drove it to work this morning with absolutely zero squeaking or creaking from the front end!! The steering felt a lot better too. It doesn't feel like it's binding up anymore. Looks like filling those lower ball joint boots up with grease helped (I still can't believe they were completely dry:eek:). I'm still going to install my new Moog LCA's as soon as possible. But for now, I think the band-aid worked.
 
I bet it feel's good to be done with it though.

Yes. Front subframe is next.

I still may have to take my rear springs out again. I will have to drive it first to see if it settles down in the rear. I changed the way I installed my rear springs, hopefully won't have to cut them.
 
Saturday nite, went to the Boca Chica Taco House and when we came out, tried to start the car. No start. no crank, no click from solenoid. had it towed to a station and found out this AM, it was a fried rebuilt starter. ordered a new rebuilt from Napa with a lifetime warranty and had them put it in.
Starts good now...
 
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Turned it into a pile on my work bench
 
Wow, looks like you had fun tearin that apart.

I changed oil and oil filter, cut the rear bad plastic thing. I really want to make the rear sit on the ground. I changed the shocks out to new 89 t-bird shocks to get it lower. I still want more low!!

anyone ever try to build owered lower control arms?
 
Broke out the polisher today and put a good shine on...

Earlier in the week: went to inquire/investigate/fix my misfire on cylinder 4. Moved coil, misfire still on 4. Moved spark plug, misfire still on 4. It was then brought to my attention that the injector wires coming out of the main harness were pinched under the valve cover. Loosened it up and out came the nice pair of marred wires. A quick put together and she's golden!
 
Replaced my broken air bag suspension with JJJJ Sport Thunderbird springs!

(let the hate mail begin lol)
 
The new air shock finally came in today for the passengers side. It was leaking over night and nose diving. Sometimes it would nose dive within a matter of hours. Not anymore. Just as soon as I found it on the porch, I took it to the garage and put it in. Even when I finished and let the car back down, it aired up within no time. My compressor is from American Air and only a little over 2 years old. I'm going to go ahead and order the drivers side and then I'll be done with the front end for a while. btw, the bags that were on my 95 did come from a 98. Jamie had put them on before I bought the car. It wasn't leaking then but within the last few months, it got started.

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Apparently, 2008 is when this one was made and could have been the last year they were made, I don't know.

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Old one before removing.

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Up close to show the cracks.

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Finished and this is how it sits after venting. It is sensor lowered. Sets right at 27 1/4" after venting.

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Cried my eyes out as I watched my last 6 months of hard work burn to the ground.

Details?

Another fire? If it was your car, I know the feeling ALL too well. Take it to the "anything goes" section and show us some pics of what happened.

x2

I went back out and sensor lowered the rear to get it all even. Now at venting, car off, it's sitting at 27 1/4 on all four corners. Less work on the compressor, vents fast and looks much better.

Look's great limit95.
 
Still drivin' with no noises at all from the front end after greasing the lower ball joints! I'm happy. I'm still gonna install the new Moog LCA's, but I can't do it this weekend because we've got to take my little girl to her pagent rehersal in Raleigh Saturday, and I don't like to do car work on Sundays. But it will get done. It's just nice to be able to drive it now without being embarassed by the horrible grinding/creaking/squeaking noises:)

On a side note, getting back on my soap box:

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I don't seem to see the word "strut" anywhere on that box. Does anyone else see the word "strut"? Me neither. Looks like Mark VIII's don't have struts. At least Ford Motor Company (the folks who designed and engineered these cars) knows the difference between an SLA suspension and a strut suspension:rolleyes:

(Sorry, couldn't help it. I just had to go there:D)

Congrats on your new front air shocks NoLimit! It's always nice to know your car won't be slammed an hour after you park it!:)

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